A woman sustained severe burn injuries from a barbecue fire at a homestay in Sittong, Darjeeling, while on her honeymoon. The incident occurred on September 13, and police have since filed a complaint. A CCTV video capturing the event has gone viral on social media, drawing public attention to the case.
The woman, Nikita, was on a honeymoon trip with her husband Souvik Das, a resident of Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district. The employee is seen throwing a fluid onto the fire, following which the flames immediately catch Nikita. The visuals show her falling to the floor as Souvik rushes towards her, with him heard shouting as he tries to respond to the incident. The homestay employee who was working the barbecue is also seen running away from the fire before removing his T-shirt and attempting to douse the flames. Souvik has lodged a police complaint over the incident.
The couple, who got married a month ago, had asked the homestay staff for a barbecue facility on the night of September 13, Indian Express reported. The homestay staff arranged a barbecue for the couple at around 8.30 pm, according to Souvik.
He said an employee was cooking corn when he threw a fluid onto the fire. “We are looking into the matter,” a senior police official said, according to Indian Express.
A video of the incident shows the couple sitting beside the barbecue before the situation suddenly escalates.
Couple Faces Delays in Seeking Medical Help After Fire Incident
Souvik, whose wife Nikita sustained severe injuries in a fire incident, reported that they faced significant delays in getting her to a hospital. Nikita suffered 60 percent burns, and Souvik claimed there was no primary treatment available at the homestay where the incident occurred. He stated, “There were no cars. We had to wait for hours to get a car and then bring my wife to Siliguri. I want justice.” This situation raises concerns about the adequacy of emergency response resources in remote areas.
